Field or row crop forage harvester



Nov. 10, 1953 c. w. HANSEN 2,658,319

FIELD OR ROW CROP FORAG HARVESTER Filed Jan. 28, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 [faz/miur.-

Nov. 10, 1953 c. w. HANSEN 2,558,319

FIELD 0R ROW CROP FORAGE HARVESTER Filed Jan. 2e, 194s e sheets-sheet 2 s vy vgv' f/amemr.- /zarles W Hansen Nov. 10, 1953 Q wl HANSEN 2,658,319

FIELD OR ROW CRDP FORGE HARVESTER Filed Jan. 28, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. l0, 1953 c. w. HANSEN FIELD oa Row cRoP EoRAGE HARVESTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, 1948 [rufen/Zar.' Charles WHafzsen A .gy 5M, 4

NOV 10, 1953 c. w. HANSEN FIELD OR ROW CROP FORAGE HARVESTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 28, 1948 :n ICU, ww M n www mw Z j, S my Nov. 10, 1953 c. w. HANSEN FIELD OR ROW CROP FORAGE HARVESTER 6y Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 28, 1948 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles W. Hansen, Racine, Wis., assgnor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 28, 1948, Serial No. 4,830

(Cl. 56-Z) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to harvesting equipment of the general type known as eld forage harvesters and, in particular, to field forage harvesters which are readily adaptable to cut either field crops or row crops.

In general, it is required that field forage harvesters of this latter type shall be capable of handling` at least two types of forage crops. The first type includes field or broadcast crops such as hay, alfalfa, legumes, grasses and the like which must be mowed in a wide swath; and the second type includes stalk crops such as corn and sorghum, which are grown in rows that must be cut individually. The great differences in the cutting and handling methods for the two types of crops result in the need for a harvester having interchangeable crop collecting and feeding units which may be readily combined with a single, basic, mowing, conveying, and processing unit to efficiently harvest either type of crop.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved forage crop harvester of this general type, and as Will hereinafter appear this object is accomplished by the provision of a harvester wherein independent crop collecting and feeding units are interchangeably mounted on a basic unit which embodies an ensilage cutting and blowing mechanism, a conveyor for conducting the crops to the ensilage cutting mechanism, and drive and guard members for interchangeable mowing `and cutting bars which are selectively used for the various crops. A more specific object of the invention includes the provision of means for attaching various interchangeable crop collecting and feeding units to the basic unit so that the implement can be converted to process either broadcast crops or row crops by changing a minimum number of parts. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplished by the use of novel structural combinations and improvements, the

features of which will be made apparent in the accompanying drawings and the following description.

In the drawings:

Figs. l and 2 are plan and side views, respectively, of the basic harvester unit which comprises a unitary ensilage cutting and delivery `unit, a conveyor for conducting material to the cutting and delivery unit, and draft means for connecting the harvester to a draft vehicle, with -parts broken away and in section in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the elements of mechanism which are attached to thebasic unit to adapt it for the processing of broadcast Figs. 4 and 5 are plan and side views, respectively, of the assembled mechanism adapted to process broadcast crops;

Figs. 6 and "I are a plan and a side elevational View, respectively, showing the row crop gathering and feeding means which is adapted to be attached to the basic unit of the harvester;

Figs. 8 and 9 are a plan and a side elevational view, respectively, of the assembled harvester adapted for use in processing row crops;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-l0 in Fig.4; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line Il-II in Fig, 4.

The forage crop harvester illustrated in the drawings is operable to sever the crop fromv` the field, to convey the severed crop to the crop cutting and delivery unit wherein it is cut into suitable short lengths for the making of silage, and subsequently, to deliver the cut crop through a blower outlet to a wagon or other conveyance by which the material is hauled to a disposition point. As before pointed out, the harvester of the invention is adapted for rapid conversion from an apparatus which is adapted to process a standing field or broadcast crop to an apparatus which is adapted to process a standing row crop. In order to accomplish the efficient transition from one type of harvesting to the other, it is desirable that the fewest number of parts be removed from the basic unit and that a minimum number of parts be added to convert the apparatus. v

In the following description, the basic .conveyor and crop cutting and delivery unit, together with the elements which are needed to harvest a broadcast or field crop, will first be described in detail, After the eld crop harvesting mechanism has been described, kthe several changes needed to convert the harvester to process row crops will be described, together with a detailed description of the various kconversion parts which are required. Y'

The conveyor and crop cutting and delivery unit, which is the main or basic unit for the field forage harvester, and which is particularly illustrated in Figs. l and 2, includes a forwardly and downwardly extending conveying means Il which is adapted to convey crops which are mowed or cut in the field into a combined cutting and delivery unit I3. The cutting and delivery unit I3 includes a cutting and blower wheel I5 which is provided with suitable knives l1 for lchopping the crop into the proper lengths for storage in a silo or the like, and blowing vanes i I9 for delivering the silage cut in the unit toa aecaio wagon or other transport vehicle. The basic unit supports the complete harvester and includes a main frame 2 I, which is fabricated from suitable structural members which define a generally horizontal platform portion 23, a housing 25 for containing the cutter and blower wheel l5, and a forwardly an downwardly extending portion 21 which is 'adap ed to support the conveying means Il; One side of the blower housing 25 is prolvided with an outlet conduit 29 for the cut crop material, and an outlet or deliyery pipe 3l is az',- ranged to fit over the upper end of the conduit 29.

Suitable support wheels 3l 'are joui-nailed o n an axle 35 which is attached to the main frame 2| of the basic unit in order that the harvester may be moved in the eld during use: g fabricated drawbar 31, which includes a pair of channel side sections 39 and suitable cross members 4|, is hingedly connected to the axle 35 by means of canal 'hinge Dins`43' which engage gusset plates 45 'Welded to the aile'35-. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a pull typo implement' and it is` intended to be drawn by, and powered from 'a tractor. However, it will be apparent to those slilled in the art Ythat various'of the novel' featuresr of the invention can be incorporated'in a self-propelled implement or ini a tractor supported implement.

The forward end of the drawbar 31 is adapted to be connectedV to the tractor draft gear by means of a suitable hitch plate 41?(1fig. 8)4 and hitch pin (not shown) The forward end of the drawbar 31 is provided with an adjustable stond 4'. (Fig: 2) in order that it may be supported at tlo'prper' elevation when the harvester is being coupledto Vthe tractor;` the'stand 4,9 isY raised Dungthe operation ofthe implement in a field, itis necessary that the height of theY f orverd endof'fhe lmplwpent be adjustable t conml" with the @wp and Held @editions- In the emhodl'rr'ientof the invention illustrated, thead- JI'Simt. is page 'possible by sleeps 0i a rigid, hwk/Med ygl'sl. Wllh it ttafclld @fthe main @mail and. which extends forwardly@ a posigbbve 'the fprwarcl'esd, of, che drcwba, 3.1 Th' whistles; rese, Si 1s. maintained. m. s fixed Wlfpfflplrstp 'the drehbar 3J by means of l .v velltiflllalr ilelclleslllllk and, spring latch. arrpsempl l- The. weight or large' pcrtlcnfof die hn'plenlent is ccuntcribclnced by meariscf. s CQllPeSsiQrl spring. @which extends between. the l- 1,. Usfliltllmainlrsm2l bildet t9 lacilltatsthstrsnsllissiopof power Elle, implement, si longitudinally 'exeridmg vener. talige!! 'Shaft 51. 1s rotoli/ely simmr'tedbn the cirawltp'a,r 31 in suitable brackets;v (not shown). The, @were essi 'or 'empower take-01T shaft 5.1 includesa con i citing: vmingling (also` not shown) whighlsadapted to. engage the. power takefoif on t etriictoi.'`

he Cutter apdblvwer wheel, l @is supported 0n ameri. 5s: sh. isldufrnalledlls sanne hear;-

Qp the; nl Trl *fraai ,2. l TheY shaft Seis, driven bis. direct colllcip t9 thelmplelnent power wissenschaft 5.1, wicca ls., connected, with the 129W@ @1kb-0,5, Qn tlaclm, PQWer is transfQh/l? what and, blower wheel supporting incapaci @pair of chains at which engage a sprocket 63.01; the. drive shaft 51V with a sprocket; 65.. on the. shaft $9. A shear plate (not shown.) is supported upon the main frame 2| ad'- jacent` the path ofthe cuttingknves |1-, and it cooperates with chem to eirect the cutting 'ci the' il??? U1. merges 4 crop. Under some conditions it may be desirabl to employ a cylinder-shaped, cutting and delivery unit which may be of the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,564,586, which was issued to Norman R. Krause.

The conveying means Il, which constitutes a part of the basic unit, is supported upon the forwardly and downwardly extending portion 21 of the main frame 2|. The conveying means lncludes an endless cross-Slat conveyor 61, a. delivery roll Sil, and a pair of squeeze type feed rolls 1| and 13 for moving the crop material being processed over the shear plate. The endless conveyor comprises a plurality of cross-slats 1l whose ends are connected by means of a pair of moedeanart. endless chains 11. The chains 11 are sup rted upon sprockets 19 and 19a attached to sulta le shafts 8| and 8|a which are journalled into the frame 2| of the basic unit. The upper run of the endless conveyor 81 is supported upon the downwardly extending portion 21 of tho main frame 2 l. The delivery roll 69 is supported above thel endless conveyor t1, adjacent its discharge end, in a pair of positioning yokes 83 which pormit vertical movement of the roll 69 in response toA Ivariations in the volume of crop mutual passing into the cutting and delivery unit Il. As seen best in Fig. 2, opposite end portions ol the shaft |05 for the delivery roll 69 normally rost m the bottom of the yokes n in freely moveable relation thereto and any vertical thrust on the roll will, therefore, effect a movement of the shaft upwardly inthe yokes.

' 'I he cross-slot conveyor cooperates withy a flared hopper l1 fabricated in two sections from sheet metal or the like. The forward end ot the hopper 81 adjacent the inlet end of the conveyor, is several times the width of the endless conveyor 461 so,y that a wide' swath of crop material can be received". A xed sickle bar 09 is attached along the forward edge of'the hopper 81 to a sickle bar support in the formV of an inclined ramp` l5 in a position which is normal to the line of draft of thoimplement, The ged sickle bar 89 includes the customary pointed sickle guards (as shownln section in Fig. 1l) having rearwardly extending, upwardly inclined, portions with a recess formed at thetrear thereof toprovide a guide for a moveableclltter bar 8.8.; and. in addition. form a. guard foi-'the cutter bar. The rearward end of the hop- V smoothly into a pair 0,! vertically disposed'. platesv Slt, which extend rearwardly to thqlzlower housing., The plates, 90.101111 a, relatively deep trough through which the CIQP. may heelicletltly feste the cuttmg and deuvery unit 'I Thswidth 0.1i: theftlollsh formed by the plates. 80

,-lsscmtccusily me width o f theY crossfslat ccnveyor 61.

'Iheoutsr side. ofthe hopper 8,1. the side Vwhich lsopposlte. the drawbar 31. is remcvablctrom the implement, when, it is desired to process row crops. 'The removable section of the hopper l1 1s indicated at H in the drawings.; basic www@ Sid# Hinwlccis drown iny Fla- 4. ma the basi? unit; the side H: is in 1.4 method of 'attaching the Side. Ii` to is'shosm mm. a.l Thcslcklcbor Supporta. of theside His. provided with allah' ot holesj. whichregister-with holes 33 in the sickle bar supportlonthe basic unit. A bracketA C is attached tothe side o! the downwardly extending frame portion 21- and this bracket is provided with a hole which registers with a. hole 91 in the bottom portion of the hopper section H. Registering holes 99 and 0| are also provided at the upper end of the unit. When connecting the side H to the hopper the registering holes 9| and 93, 95 and 91, and 99 and |0| are aligned and bolts or like fastening means 92, 96 and 98 (Fig. 4), respectively, are inserted in the registering holes. The guideways in the sickle bar sections 89 and 89a, being identical in cross section (as shown in Figs. and 11), are then aligned so that a single cutter bar can extend across the entire width of the hopper 81 (Fig. 4).

A fabricated divider point |03 is provided at each end of the fixed sickle bar support 85 (Figs. 2 and 3) to guide the crop material into the hopper 81. The divider points merge smoothly with the sides of the hopper so that no projecting surfaces are formed which will collect crop material and impede its progress to the cutting and delivery unit.

The delivery roll 69 is of the general shape illustrated in the drawings and is supported on a shaft |05 which is moveable toward and away from the endless conveyor 61 in relation to the amount of material which is passing through the squeeze-type feed rolls 1| and 13. The upper, squeeze-type, feed roll 13 is of ribbed construction and is rotatively supported by a shaft |01. The shaft |01 is adjustably supported in a pair of vertically extending slots |09 in the main frame 2| and the ends of the shaft |01 are attached to a pair of springs (not shown) which resiliently bias the upper feed roll 13 `against the lower feed roll 1|. Each end of the delivery roll shaft |05 is connected to the corresponding end of the upper feed roll shaft |01 by a link member I|| so that the two rolls move proportional vamounts in response to changes in the volume of material fed into the cutting and delivery unit I3. The lower, squeeze-type, feed roll 1| is supported upon a shaft I3 which is xedly journalled into the frame 2|. The feed roll 1| is desirably smooth surfaced.

A main gear box I5 is supported on the horizontal platform section 23 of the main frame 2| and the gear box I|5 is connected to the power take-off shaft 51 through a safety clutch |I1. The lower feed roll 1| is driven from a direct connection, not shown, to the main gear box I5 of the implement. The supporting shaft |01 for the upper feed roll 13 is operatively connected to a second outlet on the main gear box ||5 by means of an extensible, power transmission shaft ||9 which includes a pair of universal joints |2| that permit vertical movement of the upper feed roll 13. The rearward supporting shaft 8|a for the cross-Slat conveyor `61 is connected to the supporting shaft ||3 for the lower feed roll 1| by means of a drive chain |23 which operatively joins a sprocket |25 on the feed roll shaft 3 to a sprocket |21 on the shaft 8|a. Thus, the endless conveyor 61 is `driven at a rate which is .proportional to the peripheral speed of the feed rolls 1| and 13.

The delivery roll shaft |05 is operatively connected to the upper feed roll shaft |01 by means of a chain |29 which engages a sprocket |3| on the delivery roll shaft |05 with a sprocket |33l on the upper feed roll shaft |01. Both ends of the delivery roll supporting shaft |05 are extended outwardly, one end of the shaft |05 is adapted to drive a pair of power take-off sprockets |35 and |31. The sprocket |31 is keyed to the shaft |05 adjacent its end and the sprocket |35 is attached to a stub shaft |38 which is journalled in a bracket |43 attached tothe platform section 23 of the main frame. The stub shaft |38 is operatively connected to the delivery roll shaft by an extensible shaft |39 and a pair of universal joints |4I. The sprocket |31 thus moves with the delivery roll `69 and the sprocket |35 is maintained in fixed relation to the frame of the implement as the delivery roll 69 moves vertically in response to variations in the volume of material fed into the cutting and delivery unit |3.

When handling field crops it is desirable that a grain reel be provided to move the crop into the hopper 81 and on to the conveyor 61 as the 'apparatus moves through the field. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a conventional grain reel |45 is supported above the fixed sickle bar 89 on a pair of brackets |41 attached to the divider points |03. The brackets |41 are braced by suitable structural members |49 such as are illustrated in Fig. 5. The grain reel |45 is driven by means of -a forwardly extending drive chain |5| which operatively connects a sprocket |53 on the reel |45 with the sprocket |35 on the delivery roll power take-off shaft. The forwardly extending drive chain |5| is provided with a suitable chain tightener |55 which may be biased by a spring |51 (Fig. 5).

The moveable cutter bar 88 (Figs. 10 and 11) is supported within the guideway formed by the fixed sickle bar 89 along the forward edge of the hopper l81 in the usual manner. The cutter bar 88 is driven by means of an eccentric |6| which is connected to a sprocket |63 on the safety clutch ||1 by means vof a suitable drive shaft |65 and a chain and sprocket arrangement |61.

When handling field crops, it is desirable that a beater roll |69 be provided forwardly of the delivery roll 69 to precompact the crop as it enters the narrow trough formed by the vertical plates 90. The beater roll |69 (Figs. 4 and 5) is of the four-wing type and is of fabricated metal construction. The beater roll |69 is supported upon a shaft |1|, and one end of the shaft |1| is rotatively journalled in a bearing attached to one end of a link member |13. The lother end of the link member |13 is also provided with a bearing, and this bearing engages one of the extended ends of the delivery roll supporting shaft |05. The other end of thebeater roll shaft |1| is splined and engages a suitable splined socket |15 which includes an integral sprocket |11. The sprocket |11 is rotated by means of a chain |19, which connects the sprocket |11 with the sprocketl31 cn the delivery roll shaft |05. AV

ychain guard |8| for the chain |19 supports the splined end of the beater roll shaft I1| in fixed relation to the delivery roll shaft |05, similarly to the link |13 on the other side of the machine.

The apparatus which has been described is adapted to be moved through a eld of soy beans, clover, or other similar field crop, and is operable to mow the crop, to convey the mowed crop to the cutter and delivery unit which chops it into suitable lengths for silage, and to deliver the cut crop through the delivery pipe 3| 'to a wagon or other transport vehicle.

When it is desired to convert the field crop harvester to a row crop implement,r Athe moveable cutter bar 88 is removed from its brackets and a short corn knife having one extremely strong cutter blade |83 is substituted in the fixed sickle bar 89 (Fig. l). The grain reel |45 is removed from its brackets |41 and the grain reel drive chain |5| is also removed. The outer or removable section H of the hopper 81 is then-removed spasms ma the gunner mouutinbncnru1 ooms remainizu divider point t is d; Finally, thev beater roll |69 it detached from its supporting link |13, and. the socket Hi and the chain guard itll are dismantled.. The apparatus is their ready to receives gathering! point unit Il wigs. 6- and' 7) in' which there is for-meti a suitablel stalkway |81 for receiving row crops.

The` gathering point'` unit |05 includes a )wir of fabricatedv gathering points; HlilI which are spaced! apart! to i'ormI they stalkw'ay N1: The gathering points H9 are connected. together at their upper,. rearward^,.ends by means o! zei-trans vessel! extending; stalktilting bracketV |9I' andy at their' middlei portiom adjacent their bottomP edge-attire base'ot the stalkwayby' meansofa omnbindi, connecting bar and xed cornl knife lil... 'I'hefstalk tilting bracket |91 andthe oonnecting bar-fixed: corn knil'ef |93v constitute the' onlyy connectionI between the gatheringl points Il.; When the' gathering point unit |86` is at; tached to the-basic' unit', thefconnecting bar |93 is; adaptedrtozoverlie the'ilxedfsick-le bar support- Ii onT the forward end' of the cross'slatconveyor 61;, and thertiltlngz bracket |i'||'y is adapted to; c0-- operateA with` the conveyor 61 andthe delivery roll 69 to move the stalks butt ilrst into the cutting and deliveryunit |01. 'Ihus,.neither` connectionrinterferes withzthe stalkway lilla The gatheringfpoint-assembly |85 also'includes two peirs:-offverticai1yspaced' gathering chains IDI! which are-adapted tofengagev the stalks ot oom: andi tofmovethom-l rearwardly through the stnlkwayf- |81- until ythey aresevered' by'the blade of the'-oornzknifefl.` 'Ilhegatheringjchains |95 are-ot. thefusual constructionlandinelude'alpluraiity o!" rake-links: IN' which are spaced= apart by: the usual chaindinks |99 The gathering chains`- |Y are supported' onA suitable sprockets III and Nlo'rotatlbly journalledin'the gatherin; points |85; the rearwardisprockets--Ziiiwbeing connected by means: o1: generally vertically extendingshaitslf'on-whoseupper ends are attached drive sprockets 2065 Acrossr shaft; 201 is journalledin -the gathering point* framen softhat it is lprotectivety" sur'- ronndedxby the'stalk tiltingl braclretj- |91- anda' sprocket 209N iiskeyed to the` outer endl of-Y the shaftiZUl: Ardrivefchainfll is providedto 011-" eratively.l connectv thesprocket 2 09ftothe sprocket |81; described'in :connection with the beater roll 69'. A'pair ofbevelgearunits 3 transmit power i'rom.the shaft 2tlftoa. pair of sprockets-2|5 which` area operativeiyconnectd to the sprockets 2|!! byl means =of drive ychains-2| 1.

In order tofacilitate,the connection or' the gathering point unit |85-to the'basic unit;- a plu rality of holes- 2|8,=. are'V providedr in' the-'read-v wardly 'extending' vertical fiange'fportions off'the gathering point unit (Figs: 6^ands7) which'a're adaptedf to registerfwith'holesv in the vertically extending. plates'` 90 thefmain frame-2| for the insertionl ofbolts 22|V orother fastening means -(Fig'. 9) Also, srpalrA of lreinorced braok ets-B are xedftofan intermediater portion-'ot the gathering point unit |851which-are adapted, respectivelyi tofregisterr with kthe bracketrC in thefdownwardly extending-.frame portion 2 1 y and reinforced receptacle D provided in thefbottom of the hopper 81opposite-the'.bracketC.l The registering-l memberszB, C, and vD are ally-provided with fsuitable holesfwherebyr-'the gatheringlpoint asIembly-canfbe secured totheframei; asf-by boltsinFigsnand 9).v Asshown in' the dr`a1f 1888;.,-the fwidthl ofthe stalkwayfformed-byrthe 8 gathering points is substantially less than the width of the endless conveyor 61; this being m important feature in accomplishing the objects of the invention. The chain' tightener |55 can be' easily movedi to provide the proper tension t6'the`ohnins2tl.

In operation as atow crop harvester; the gathering` points and gatheringI chains' gather the stalksA of the crop,` the corn knife severs the stalks;` the conveyor means carries the crop ma'- irial into the cutter' andl delivery unit wherein it is chopped into the proper length for silage and delivered to' a suitable' wagon or the like. It can be readily seen that the interchangeability gainedby' thev` usev or this arrangement permits a; farmer to' harvest his-` crops a's" they develop in the' field without t'lie necessity ot purchasing andmalntainin'g two dinerent' harvestrs. When the harvester is as'l a row crop implement. its width is substantially reduced so that itcan be easily maneuveredA in' a r'w crop' ileld', and when thefimplemen't is used'toharvest neldcrops; the' widthy oi"l the' swath which is cut from' the heldin sutil'cintlywide'that the proessing'mecm anismf 1s capable' of running at capacity.

variousof the nvelf featuresof my invention are( set fcrth'in the appended claims;

11. A basic cropfhandnng unit adapted for use. selectively, xifithiieldl crop arid'r'ow cropharvest# ing' attachmentsv comprising; ac wheel: supported frame, an elongated conveyor, a-support means for said-conveyor secured-tosaidfrarne iii-a po; sltion overlying sai'df frame andl extending for- Wai'dly! arid" downwardly thnel'rom to a position ri front" off Said frameja'- sickle bar support nflo'lint'e'd Oli the fol'wrdt end' of saidv conveyOr support transversely" or s'aidelongatedI conveyor, asicklebar' xed'to said-'sickle bar'support, at- 'caching meansilxedto theforward portion of salts conveyor supportfeans ln'position'fr del' tac-hable c'riiiecftio'ly with' thep harvesting' attachments, a pair of spacedapartmeiers extending* upwardlyf01"i'-l opposite 'sides' of said conveyor at the-'rearward fpoitiorioffthe-ltter; said "sp'a'ce apart-'members 'eachv including additional attachL ing' reans'foconnectlon with 1 a harvesting' sttaeh'thent',I and ad'raw bar structure' fixed to said Iranie an'd extending fforwa'rdlyftherefron in laterallyspaced relation'I tof said conveyor support i'iier'insPand" :oiiveyil` 2. Aif basic crop handling unit adapted for use; selectivlyt'wth fxeld`c'r'dp and row crop harvesting attachments comprising; a? wheel supported frame; an" elongateid conveyor, a' support'means for sam conveyor-seemed tosaii 'frame in a position o'verlyln'g'sr'iid frameah'd having section incll'rie'dforwardly and downwardly to aposition b''y'o'id'saidTraino, a sickle`bar' support' mounted on the forward endy ofsaidn conveyor sup'port transverselyof said nelongatedconveyor; the end portionof -saidsickle bar support includingconnecting means aiiording attachment-of an extensienportion thereto, a-sickle barV mounted on saidsickledransupport, attaching means xed to opposite sides-of said inelined-section'of said conveyorr support-in position for-v connection with harvesting attachments; a rpair of generally vertical. spaced-apart members carried -byfsaidframe adjacent the rearward 'portion 'of sai'dconveyor in position'on-oppositefsides of the f latter, said vertical-1'membersincluding additional attaching means forsupportingcomiection with a Vharvester attachment;- andf-af'drw barfstmcture xedto 9 said frame in forwardly extending relation thereto along one side of said conveyor.

3. A basic crop handling unit adapted for use, selectively with field crop and row crop harvesting attachments comprising, a wheel supported frame, a longitudinally extending endless conveyor, a support 'means for said 4conveyor xed to said frame and having a generally horizontal section disposed above said frame and an inclined section extending forwardly and downwardly from said horizontal section, a pair of generally vertical, spaced-apart members disposed on opposite sides of the horizontal section or said conveyor support means, a crop-cutting means supported on said spaced-apart members in position to receive material from the conveyor, a delivery roll supported by said generally vertical members forwardly of said crop-cutting means in overlying' relation to the horizontal section of said conveyor, a sickle bar support mounted on the forward end of said conveyor support transversely of the path of movement of said conveyor, the end portions of said sickle bar support including connecting means affording attachment of extension portions for said sickle bar support, a sickle bar mounted on said sickle bar support, attaching brackets fixed to said conveyor support on opposite sides thereof along said inclined section in position for connection with harvester attach- 10 ments, additional attaching means adjacent said horizontal conveyor section including said pair of generally Vertical, spaced-apart members for mounting harvester attachments, and a drawbar structure iixed to said frame in forwardly extending relation thereto along one side of said conveyor.

CHARLES W. HANSEN.

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